LOOKING BEYOND TRANSATLANTIC SHORES: THE PIVOT TO ASIA AND THE INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY Reflecting considerable strategic judgement, the EU, at the level of its External Action Service as well as the Commission, has adopted two relevant strategies that, at least on paper, could enhance its chances to stay connected and produce appropriate responses to developments in the region: the Council Conclusions adopted by FAC(28 May 2018) on Enhancing EU Security Cooperation in and with ASIA; and Connecting Europe and Asia – Building Blocks for an EU Strategy(19 September 2018) on promoting sustainable, rules-based Europe-Asia connectivity with high-quality infrastructure development. Unfortunately, both still suffer from limited implementation in the way of concrete operational projects. Comparatively speaking, Japan has started its own version of international development and cooperation centred on high quality infrastructure and rules-based regimes, and it rose to be recognised as a major player on these issues in the Global South, earning it the cooperation of the EU, Australia, and the US. It is unclear whether internal considerations have held Europe back – such as deciding on the technologies and type of connectivity they want to use, or if competition with the great powers at a global level has drained too much of Europe's capacity to act and invest with an impact. Meanwhile, one should recall that for decades Asian countries were accustomed to accepting the presence and actions of a balancing power in the region, a global power guaranteeing stability and preventing a new challenger from rising to dominate them. A greater balance of forces acting in the region would be welcomed. Some observers believe that Asian countries may go along with or secretly hope that the US and Europe will engage more in the region, even as they are recalibrating relations with China. This»secret preference« should not be interpreted as an allegiance or in any emotional way; rather, it is the expression of, and acknowledgement that, Indo-Pacific countries, in their assessment, consider that the presence of a force counter-balancing China will allow them the space to manoeuvre and grow, while quite possibly increasing their opportunities as well. 9